I am Bala (https://twitter.com/OxBalala) from China, founder of Herstory, a community established in 2022 alongside four like-minded women, including Lisy and Jiaxin as developers, and Aran (https://twitter.com/AranWong_) and Jocelyn as designers. We initially focused on organizing local events in China. Our team has since expanded to include five more members: Xiao Ming as a designer (@Xiaomin78944285), Bobo as a content manager (https://Twitter.com/NatalieBob54424), Zoe as a community manager, Ebony（@hexinxin9） as an event organizer, and Yuan as a marketing manager. With 200+ active members now, we're growing Crapidly. And my involvement with Shefi underscores my commitment to promoting financial freedom for women in China, a cornerstone of our mission.
Herstory is a community dedicated to building a womxn social+NFT platform. This platform is a sanctuary for women and minorities to create, narrate, and share their stories, ensuring these narratives are indelibly recorded on Web3. By giving womxn the tools to control their narratives and offering financial benefits through NFTs, we aim to create a space where their voices are authentically represented and valued.
Recent studies, including a research by BCG X and People of Crypto Lab, highlight the underrepresentation of women in the European tech and Web3 sectors, a gap that is significantly more pronounced in China. This situation is compounded by widespread unfair treatment and discrimination in the workplace. Women in China face significant obstacles and challenges that are often insurmountable without external support. Therefore, Herstory aims to address this disparity by guiding Chinese women into the Web3 domain, using technology as a lever for empowerment and recognition. We envision Web3 as a transformative force in their lives, helping them realize their unique values and strengths. A more inclusive Web3 ecosystem, enriched by women's participation, will not only benefit women but also other marginalized groups often overlooked in a male-dominated landscape.
We are at the forefront of creating a SocialFi platform that seamlessly integrates Web3 with social engagement. This innovative platform will enable community members to write, comment on, and trade stories, with the unique advantage of profiting from their content through Blockchain and NFT technologies. This initiative is central to our mission of empowering women and non-binaries by giving them control over their narratives and the opportunity for financial gain.
A core aspect of our community's development involves encouraging members to delve into and translate feminist theoretical literature. This intellectual endeavor is more than just translation; it's about sparking rich discussions, sharing perspectives, and fostering a deeper understanding of feminist ideologies within our community.
Our on-the-ground efforts in Guangzhou are pivotal. We regularly organize women-exclusive Web3 novice camps and workshops dedicated to Nüshu, a unique script historically used by Chinese women. These workshops serve dual purposes: educating women about Web3 and preserving a vital part of female Chinese heritage. Our next novice camp is eagerly anticipated, scheduled to run from December 29, 2023, to January 1, 2024.
In the coming months, we plan to broaden our impact with additional novice camps in Chongqing, Hangzhou, and Beijing, and advanced co-learning camps in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. This expansion is not just geographical but also aims at enhancing the depth of learning and community engagement.
In our first year, we are setting ambitious targets to introduce over ten female builders and at least three female-founded projects into the Web3 arena. By the second year, we aim to increase these numbers to over a hundred builders and twenty projects. This effort is vital to bridge the gender gap in the Web3 space and foster a more inclusive environment.
Currently operating without angel or VC funding, Herstory is primarily driven by the passionate contributions of volunteers. To sustain and expand our initiatives, we seek financial support. The proposed budget allocation is: